The Paris 2024 Olympics have come and gone, leaving fond memories of remarkable athleticism and striking displays of courage. And that’s most true of the 88 members of the Israeli Olympian team, along with their coaches.

In the shadow of the Israel-Hamas war that began on October 7, 2023, with Hamas’ genocidal attack, this was never going to be just another Olympic Games for the Jewish State.

It seldom is.

We all remember the 1972 Munich Olympics, when 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by Palestinian terrorists in the heart of what was supposed to be known as “the cheerful games.”

This year, the soaring level of antisemitism, fueled by international institutions like the United Nations, the false media reporting and acceptance of Hamas propaganda, and the malicious charges of genocide against Israel, added to the challenge both for Jewish and Israeli athletes.

Because of the high number of threats, the Israeli team was accompanied by elite French police and Israel’s Shin Bet security agency wherever they went, traveling in special security convoys that not even political leaders in most countries would ever have.

There were also calls to ban Israel from the Olympics by Palestinian and Arab sports organizations, as well as 26 French lawmakers. And Paris had held plenty of demonstrations — often violent — against Israel.

Yet despite the threats, risks, dangers, and opposition, the Israeli team still showed up, waving their flags with pride and joy, preparing to compete at the highest levels of the sporting world.

In an atmosphere that would challenge any other country, Israel thrived.

The Jewish State won an unprecedented seven medals, including one gold, five silvers, and one bronze, for what turned out to be Israel’s most successful Olympics games ever. They even won more medals than India, a country with one billion people (Israel has less than 10).

But behind each medal and each performance are stories that constantly remind us that even though they were competing in the greatest sporting show on earth, the Olympic Games meant so much more than just sports for the Israeli athletes.

Israeli rhythmic gymnast Daria Atamanov’s emotional ribbon routine was performed to the haunting melody of the psalm “Shir Lama’a lot.” Her coach, Ayelet Zussman, said it was dedicated to “all the people of Israel, to people who are sitting at home and waiting for their loved ones. To the families of the murdered.”

Israeli judoka Peter Paltchik, who won bronze, spoke of the difficult period the country is going through, and all the people he wouldn’t see again, saying he “fought for everyone, for our flag.” He also dedicated his medal to his coach, Oren, whose son Omer was killed fighting in Gaza.

Windsurfer Tom Reuveny, who won Israel’s only gold medal and whose brother is currently fighting in the war, spoke of the great sacrifice the troops and reservists have made, and are making, defending the country, saying that “they are the real heroes.”

American Jew Amit Elor, whose parents are from Israel and who often speaks passionately about antisemitism, said after winning a wrestling gold medal that she hoped she could bring “even just an ounce of joy to the people right now,” telling The Jerusalem Post, “I am an American proudly wrestling for the US, but in my heart, I am also wrestling for Israel.”

Australian Jewish racewalker Jemima Montag, who won bronze, is the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor who endured the Auschwitz camp and death march. Jemima’s parents met at the 1989 Maccabiah Games in Israel, while she herself was the Australian team’s flag bearer at the 2017 Maccabiah Games in Israel.

It’s stories like these that connect the Jewish world — from Israel to Australia to America to Paris, as the shared trauma of October 7 continues to be felt by Jewish communities worldwide.

At these Olympics, at this pivotal moment in history, the Israeli team, supported by many of the other Jewish participants, were not merely athletes, but ambassadors for the Jewish people, and while success is always wonderful, it’s often more important to be judged not on the color of the metal or the place they finished, but rather the mettle brought to it.

The manner in which this Israeli team carried itself — bringing dignity, respect, and honor to themselves, their people, and their country — is truly inspirational.

Much of the international community, seemingly dismissive of the existential threat Israel faces, continues to arrogantly dictate to Israel what it should do in its fight for survival against the evil entities surrounding it. But Israel’s performance at the Olympics showed that the world should be learning from Israel, and not vice versa.

This was not just a team of athletes, but a team of heroes.

Justin Amler is a policy analyst at the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC).

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